Peoples Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone on Friday hit back at the BJP’s objections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s resolution on statehood, arguing that the political and constitutional relationship between J&K and India cannot be divorced from the commitments and assurances surrounding the events of 1947.
Lone said, the BJP was “making noise” because it had no substantive argument against the resolution, insisting that Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India must be understood in the context of the promises and constitutional arrangements that accompanied it.
“Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India because of the events of 1947. Promises were made to us in 1947. Because of that, we are here,” Lone said, arguing that restoration of statehood was not a matter of governmental charity.
He described the withdrawal of statehood as a “very bad act”, alleging that it was driven by “stubbornness” and “hatred”. He further argued that the constitutional relationship that evolved after accession, including the autonomy arrangements that existed before and after the 1953 watershed and the subsequent constitutional framework, could not simply be erased from the historical record.
Referring to the broader question of autonomy, Lone said issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional position, including the commitments associated with accession and subsequent arrangements, formed part of the political understanding under which the State’s relationship with India developed.
“What does the BJP know? They just arrived the day before yesterday. You should talk about ’47,” Lone said, arguing that the question of how Jammu and Kashmir became part of India could not be separated from the historical commitments made at the time.
On the possibility of pursuing a judicial route for restoration of statehood, after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah indicated that legal options could be explored, Lone said the immediate priority was to secure passage of the Assembly resolution.
“We will look at the legal route later; first, let’s focus on passing the resolution here,” he said.
